“I have been following Dr. Bilks that was. I went first to the medical colleges in Philadelphia; there was no such name as Bilks on the books. I described him to the officers of the one at which the doctor said he was graduated. I had his photograph. They told me the picture was Tom Lynch’s. Of course I was satisfied then. I went to Baltimore, and saw Mr. Loring. He told me Tom had ‘run himself out,’ spent his money, and left Dayton, where he had settled. I went there. So far from having ruined himself, he had left the place in the full tide of success, and with plenty of money in his pocket. I next went to New York. I was there six weeks, looking up Buckstone’s affairs. While I was thus engaged, I saw the name of Sandy McGuire in the court column. He had lost his money, or part of it, and in a drunken brawl had struck a man a fatal blow. He was sentenced to the state prison for life for manslaughter. “I went up to Sing Sing, and found him. He told me the whole truth, and I had his deposition taken. I found his wife, who was a nurse in the hospital. I came to Summerville next, where I staid a week, and worked up my case.” “What did you learn about Buckstone?” “I found his rooms, and obtained some of the doctor’s letters. My only object in looking him up was, to establish his relations with the doctor. But up to Tuesday night, though I had the means of showing that the witness had lied a dozen times, I had no actual proof that he was the stranger.” “Why did he confess?” “He whined around me until I told him I should overwhelm him the next day. He confessed the whole then, and seemed to be very penitent.” “I have no doubt he was.” “It was good policy to be so.” “I think he was really sorry.” “I hope he was.” “He is going away for a time.” “Indeed? Will he return?” “If he thinks he shall be well received, he will.” “I hope he will remain. Julia, I dare say, will not be quite willing to have him go,” added Dick, trying to look indifferent, which was as impossible as for water to run up hill. “Julia is a mystery to me. I don’t know what she thinks.” Dick took this answer as a rebuff, and he said no more of Julia. Eugene was not willing to speak for her, and he changed the subject. He talked about his chapel and his missionaries, his model houses, and his battle with the mill people. But these were dry topics after the exciting events of the day; and at midnight both of them retired.